These two stories illustrate how big a deal drones have become over the past decade or so. But unmanned aerial vehicles have been around a lot longer than that. Click on for a look at drones going back to World War II. less

Northrop Gumman's 44-foot-long Global Hawk first flew in 1998. In 2008, Global Hawk set the endurance record for a full-scale, operational unmanned aircraft, flying for 33.1 hours at altitudes up to 60,000 feet over Edwards Air Force Base, Calif. less

Northrop Gumman's 44-foot-long Global Hawk first flew in 1998. In 2008, Global Hawk set the endurance record for a full-scale, operational unmanned aircraft, flying for 33.1 hours at altitudes up to 60,000 feet ... more

Iraqi officials show off their 7.45-meter-wingspan Remotely Piloted Vehicle 30A, or the "Jerusalem 10," to members of the news media on March 12, 2003 in Baghdad. Iraq declared the drone in a January 15, 2003 report, but with a 4.4-meter wingspan, an error that Iraqis say was a "typing mistake." Though the drone looked like a science project, with tin foil and duct tape holding it together, U.S. officials building a case for war called it a "smoking gun." less

Iraqi officials show off their 7.45-meter-wingspan Remotely Piloted Vehicle 30A, or the "Jerusalem 10," to members of the news media on March 12, 2003 in Baghdad. Iraq declared the drone in a January 15, 2003 ... more

French soldiers set up a drone on a vehicle on July 14, 2004, prior the Bastille Day parade down the Champs Elysees in Paris.

French soldiers set up a drone on a vehicle on July 14, 2004, prior the Bastille Day parade down the Champs Elysees in Paris.

Photo: MEHDI FEDOUACH, AFP/Getty Images

French soldiers set up a drone on a vehicle on July 14, 2004, prior... Photo-4391347.59301 - GreenwichTime

Image 19 of 44

A militiaman loyal to Iraqi Shiite cleric Moqtada Sadr displays a U.S. military drone on Aug. 22, 2004. The militia claimed to have shot down the drone the previous day. The Arabic writing on the wing of the drone reads: "Equipment of the American army." less

A militiaman loyal to Iraqi Shiite cleric Moqtada Sadr displays a U.S. military drone on Aug. 22, 2004. The militia claimed to have shot down the drone the previous day. The Arabic writing on the wing of the ... more

Pilots control U.S. Predator drones flying over Afghanistan from a base in Las Vegas on May 2, 2006.

Pilots control U.S. Predator drones flying over Afghanistan from a base in Las Vegas on May 2, 2006.

Photo: Veronique De Viguerie, Getty Images

Pilots control U.S. Predator drones flying over Afghanistan from a... Photo-4391311.59301 - GreenwichTime

Image 22 of 44

In 2006, U.S. Customs and Border Protection deployed new MQ-9 Predator B drones to patrol the southern border of the United Sates.

In 2006, U.S. Customs and Border Protection deployed new MQ-9 Predator B drones to patrol the southern border of the United Sates.

Photo: Gary Williams, Getty Images

In 2006, U.S. Customs and Border Protection deployed new MQ-9... Photo-4391350.59301 - GreenwichTime

Image 23 of 44

A model of a drone fighter plane is displayed at the 6th China International Aviation and Aerospace Exhibition on October 31, 2006, in Zhuhai, China.

A model of a drone fighter plane is displayed at the 6th China International Aviation and Aerospace Exhibition on October 31, 2006, in Zhuhai, China.

Photo: ChinaFotoPress, Getty Images

A model of a drone fighter plane is displayed at the 6th China... Photo-4391351.59301 - GreenwichTime

Image 24 of 44

In this handout photo released by the Hamas media office January 11, 2007, a member of the Al-Qassam brigade, the military wing of Hamas Movement, poses with an Israeli spy drone which Hamas says was captured in the Gaza strip. less

In this handout photo released by the Hamas media office January 11, 2007, a member of the Al-Qassam brigade, the military wing of Hamas Movement, poses with an Israeli spy drone which Hamas says was captured ... more

Photo: Handout, Getty Images

In this handout photo released by the Hamas media office January... Photo-4391361.59301 - GreenwichTime

Image 25 of 44

In this photo provided by the Israeli Defense Forces, the IDF's first long-range drone, named the Heron, comes in for landing March 7, 2007 at Palmachim air base in central Israel.

In this photo provided by the Israeli Defense Forces, the IDF's first long-range drone, named the Heron, comes in for landing March 7, 2007 at Palmachim air base in central Israel.

Photo: Getty Images

In this photo provided by the Israeli Defense Forces, the... Photo-4391365.59301 - GreenwichTime

Image 26 of 44

A U.S. MQ-9 Reaper drone takes off August 8, 2007 at Creech Air Force Base in Indian Springs, Nev. The Reaper was the Air Force's first "hunter-killer" unmanned aerial vehicle, designed to engage time-sensitive targets on the battlefield as well as provide intelligence and surveillance. The jet-fighter sized Reapers are 36 feet long with 66-foot wingspans and can fly up to 14 hours fully loaded with laser-guided bombs and air-to-ground missiles. They can fly twice as fast and high as the smaller MQ-1 Predators, reaching speeds of 300 mph at an altitude of up to 50,000 feet. less

A U.S. MQ-9 Reaper drone takes off August 8, 2007 at Creech Air Force Base in Indian Springs, Nev. The Reaper was the Air Force's first "hunter-killer" unmanned aerial vehicle, designed to engage time-sensitive ... more

Photo: Ethan Miller, Getty Images

A U.S. MQ-9 Reaper drone takes off August 8, 2007 at Creech Air... Photo-4391367.59301 - GreenwichTime

Image 27 of 44

Michael Martinez, airframe and power plant mechanic with General Atomics Aeronautical Systems Inc., inspects an MQ-9 Reaper next to the aircraft's targeting pod during a pre-flight check August 8, 2007 at Creech Air Force Base in Indian Springs, Nev. less

Michael Martinez, airframe and power plant mechanic with General Atomics Aeronautical Systems Inc., inspects an MQ-9 Reaper next to the aircraft's targeting pod during a pre-flight check August 8, 2007 at ... more

An attendee photographs an A.R. Drone helicopter by Parrot as it flies overhead during a press event for the 2010 International Consumer Electronics Show January 6, 2010 in Las Vegas. The device is controlled wirelessly from an iPhone. less

An attendee photographs an A.R. Drone helicopter by Parrot as it flies overhead during a press event for the 2010 International Consumer Electronics Show January 6, 2010 in Las Vegas. The device is controlled ... more

A U.S. Army soldier tries to launch a drone on September 4, 2010 in Afghanistan.

A U.S. Army soldier tries to launch a drone on September 4, 2010 in Afghanistan.

Photo: PATRICK BAZ, AFP/Getty Images

A U.S. Army soldier tries to launch a drone on September 4, 2010 in... Photo-4391701.59301 - GreenwichTime

Image 34 of 44

Japan Advanced Defense Technology Centre Engineer Fumiyuki Sato displays his spherical observation drone in Tokyo on July 22, 2011. The drone can fly down narrow alleys, hover on the spot, take off vertically and bounce along the ground. less

Japan Advanced Defense Technology Centre Engineer Fumiyuki Sato displays his spherical observation drone in Tokyo on July 22, 2011. The drone can fly down narrow alleys, hover on the spot, take off vertically ... more

Pakistani security personnel examine a crashed American surveillance drone in Chaman, Pakistan on August 25, 2011. The American surveillance drone crashed near a paramilitary base close to the Afghan border, Pakistani officials said. less

Pakistani security personnel examine a crashed American surveillance drone in Chaman, Pakistan on August 25, 2011. The American surveillance drone crashed near a paramilitary base close to the Afghan border, ... more

Supporters of the Pakistani politician Imran Khan and chief of Tehreek-e-Insaf (Movement for Justice) party, burn a replica drone as they shout slogans during protest rally in Islamabad on October 28, 2011 against the U.S. drone attacks in Pakistani tribal regions. less

Supporters of the Pakistani politician Imran Khan and chief of Tehreek-e-Insaf (Movement for Justice) party, burn a replica drone as they shout slogans during protest rally in Islamabad on October 28, 2011 ... more

An Iranian boy holds a portrait of supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali khamenei as he walks past a replica of the captured U.S. RQ-170 drone on display next to the Azadi (Freedom) tower during the 33rd anniversary of the Islamic revolution in Tehran on February 11, 2012. less

An Iranian boy holds a portrait of supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali khamenei as he walks past a replica of the captured U.S. RQ-170 drone on display next to the Azadi (Freedom) tower during the 33rd anniversary of ... more

An employee of ENAC company handles Blender drones on September 26, 2012 in Merignac near Bordeaux, France, during the "UAV Show Europe."

An employee of ENAC company handles Blender drones on September 26, 2012 in Merignac near Bordeaux, France, during the "UAV Show Europe."

Photo: PIERRE ANDRIEU, AFP/Getty Images

An employee of ENAC company handles Blender drones on September 26,... Photo-4391729.59301 - GreenwichTime

Image 43 of 44

The nEUROn, an experimental Unmanned Combat Air Vehicle developed under a European consortium led by French defence group Dassault is put on show at the Dassault factory in Istres on December 19, 2012. The drone is expected to remain in testing for several years before a combat version is released sometime in 2015. less

The nEUROn, an experimental Unmanned Combat Air Vehicle developed under a European consortium led by French defence group Dassault is put on show at the Dassault factory in Istres on December 19, 2012. The ... more